Gung Hay Fat Choy
Sometimes I just love living in this city. We walked from home down to Chinatown in Vancouver yesterday. That's about a 30 minute walk, and it is downhill all the way. There we joined the thousands of people there for the Chinese New Year parade. What a riot of sound and colour.
As we munched on our bean rice cakes, bought fresh from the bakery, we saw a parade of World War II veterans, politicians, martial arts specialists, many dragons and lions and hordes of young girls of all ages, all dressed in traditional costume twirling things.
What a riot. We also picked up some Chinese candy and a bit of vegetable for dinner. All this for the huge price of nothing. (except I guess our taxes)
Then we walked uphill back home and left the firecrackers and gongs behind for another year.
What a place to live.
Need Bok Choy NOW
The most amazing thing about living in a city like Vancouver is there is so much Asian food available. From my condo I can walk in any direction and I will hit a lovely produce store within 4 blocks. These shops tend to be open a bit later than other stores, so if you need a Bok Choy and you need it now - it will be there.
Today's lunch is Szechuan tofu in the oven with glass noodles and stir-fried bok choy with garlic. It's easy enough to cook like this in a city with all this produce.
Every time I venture to my little holiday town for a break I am shocked at the prices of vegetables and fruit. It is so high that I load up the car and drive it all the way up the coast full of apples, pears, oranges, bok choy, brocolli and even onions.
So the city makes my life simple by offering such a wonderful variety at such an affordable price.
Love that Auction
There is a marvellous thrift store in the neighbourhood, the YWCA. Every week they take their better items and stick them in the windows and run a silent auction. You might see a vintage pair of roller skates, a collection of China pigs or an antique clock in there with about 30 other items.
You go in the store, ask for the number of the auction and add your bid. It is fun and easy and sometimes things go for a lot and sometimes for a little. The great thing is I get to walk up the road 15 minutes every week to get a glimpse of the new window.
The city has so many wonderful deals and is full of light and colour, even on these rainy winter nights.
